Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

The Pinecone | September 2025 • 9 • Reflections By Maxie Dunnam September Vesper Services 6:30pm | Performing Arts Center Salvation is more than a one-time event. As Christians we do not emerge full-grown. To see salvation see it in its fullness, we talk about “going on to salvation. John Wesley began his sermon on The New Birth, “If any doctrines within the whole compass of Christianity may be properly termed fundamental, they are doubtless these two—the doctrine of justi cation, and that of the new birth: the former relating to that great work which God does for us, in forgiving our sins; the latter, to the great work which God does in us, in renewing our fallen nature” (Fifty-Three Sermons, p. 567, emphasis mine). Though distinctive, the doctrines of justi cation and new birth belong together. God acts for us to forgive us, and at the same time begins the restoration of the divine image within us. As our physical birth is the momentous beginning of our physical life on earth, our new life in Christ is the beginning of a life of our souls for spiritual growth. We are by God’s grace redeemed from sin, justi ed in relation to him. We are also born of the Spirit. Wesley de ned the nature of the new birth in this fashion: “It is that great change which God works in the soul when he brings it into life; when he raises it from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. It is the change wrought in the whole soul by the almighty Spirit of God when it is ‘created anew in Christ Jesus’; when it is ‘renewed after the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness’; when the love of the world is changed into the love of God; pride into humility; passion into meekness; hatred, envy, malice, into a sincere, tender, disinterested love for all mankind” (Fifty-Three Sermons, “The New Birth,” page 573). Even here, in the description of these elements of salvation— justification and new birth---there is the dynamic of growth, going on to salvation. We may be justified by grace through faith and be converted to Christ in the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime. As Jesus talked about being “born again,” Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians calls us to no longer be infants, but to “grow up in Christ.” Spend some time reflecting on your spiritual journey. Can you recall a time, or a time frame, when you definitely claimed the Christian faith and named yourself a Christian? How did you experience what we refer to as justification by grace through faith? Or “new birth”? GOING ON TO SALVATION September 4: Dr Jimmy Latimer Redeemer Evangelical September 11: Mark Barton Hospice Chaplain September 18: Rainey Seagers Chaplain | St. Mary's Episcopal School September 25: Dr Maxie Dunnam Christ Church Been thinking about trains - specifically, about the songs they inspire. Train songs are an important part of the American music scene. They make a perfect metaphor for life’s experiences. “I hear the train a comin’ It’s rolling round the bend..” Johnny Cash released “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1957. I smile every time I hear its guitar intro. Can you hear it? Seven strong twangs, and I’m ready to sing along. “I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on,” well describes the plight of the prisoner. “But that train keeps a rollin’ on down to San Antone.” For me “Folsom Prison Blues” is the iconic American train song. But there are others that I want to mention. Undoubtedly, you’ll have a different list, but please indulge me. “Midnight Train to Georgia” is another all-time favorite of mine. Gladys Knight and the Pips crooned the chart-topping song in 1973. It speaks of frustration and of hope for a do-over in life. “L.A. proved too much for the man. So he’s leaving a life he’s come to know. He said he’s going back to find what’s left of his world, the world he left behind not so long ago.” It was written by a young Mississippi man, Jimmy Weatherly, a star quarterback at Ole Miss and a talented musician. Did he write it about himself? Then there’s “City of New Orleans,” written by Steve Goodman in 1971 and first sung by Arlo Guthrie. “Good morning America, how are you? Said don’t you know me; I’m your native son. I’m the train they call the City of New Orleans. I’ll be gone 500 miles when the day is done.” When I was a child growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, there was a rail crossing not far from my house. A passenger train we called the City of New Orleans passed through there regularly en route from New Orleans to Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, etc. I was mesmerized watching the pullman cars whizzing by and wondered what it would be like to ride that speedster. Fans of Southern Gospel music (I’m one!) would probably include Josh Turner’s “Long Black Train” in their list of favorite train songs. Turner wrote the song in 2003 while a student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The song is a metaphor for the sinful temptations we face along life’s journey. Turner advises, “But you know there’s victory in the Lord, I say, Victory in the Lord. Cling to the Father and his Holy name, And don’t on ridin’ on that long black train.” Clubmembers were asked to choose a picture from several on a table. That would be their illustration to write about. Ken Carver Poetry & Writing Club JOINUS SEPTEMBER 1STAT 9:30AM IN THE LCR